The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-15
THE ReAiNCE OF CRIME.
BOB LAMAR, SENTENCED TO BE
HANGED,
Then COMMITTED to imprisonment for
Life, wakes His Escape and Com.
mits Another Murder.
ESPECIAL TO rHR APPKAL.l


OXFORD, Miss May l3-0Ge of the
most remarkable cases that has ever
been called on the criminal docket Of
Lafayette county came to an end to-
day. The case Was the State Va. BOB
Lamar, charged with killing Billy and
Evans Harmon, at Dallas, Miss, on
January Is, 1884. The case was given
to the jury on Thurtday evening, and
they returned verdict today OF not
guilty. Too much mean whisky YVES
doubtless the beginning of the diff.
Guilty. The ARRAY began with quar-
rel between Bob Lamar and Alb Gear.
ley, which resulted in the latter being
shot in the leg The Harmon broth
ers, who were merchandising Ia Dallas,
went out to act as peacem2keie, aud
berame involved with others 10 the
difficulty. Then the shooting became
general. Bob Lamar, Doc Bishop and
Jim Bishop on one side, with several
citizens OF Dallass, besides the Harmon
brothers, on the other. When the
smoke from the many shots had cleared
away the Harmons were both mortal
" wounded and Alex. Harrison aud
Ab Clearly suffering from slight fl 'sh
" unds.
Altar the fatal ARRAY the Bishops and
Lamar fed the country, The latter
settled in the wilds of Alabama. He
lad not been there but few months,
however, before two detectives In the
disguise Of peddlers appeared on the
scene, got the drop on him, and few
DAYS thereafter be was safely lodged
behind the la 8 of our county jill.
Growing tired of his refinement, he
succeeded in giving the jailer the slip
by hiding behind the door and steal'
ing out when the jailer passed in, after
dark, with supper fJr the prisoners.
A few months aiterwaId he, in COM
pany with Doc and Jim Bishop, sur
rendered to the authorities at Coffee
vile and was brought to Oxford for
trial. Ia the meantime Detective
Wise, OF Texas, had been waylaid and
most foully murdered in ore of the
creek bottoms OF Calhoun county,
while trying to capture Doc Bishop
and Lamar.
At Lamal's fret trial for the killing
of the Harmon brothers the jury re.
turned verdict of guilty, and Lamar
was sentenced to be hanged. The
case was taken to the Supreme Court
and resulted in its being reversed ald
rem 4nded for new trial. AT his SEC
ond trial the jury returned a verdict
of guilty, and Lamar was sentenced to
peniteutiary for life. Again the care
.ras kalyav, an anne al IN thA Sunrann
Court again it was reversed and re-
mandtd. 1t came up on Wednesday
last for its third hearing, and resulted,
ss above stated, in the jury returning
q verdict of not guilty.
Through his long trial the defendant
has been most ably represented by
Pref Ell Mayes and the Hon. G. B.
Howfy. The latter prob bly, made
the greatest effort of his life in his ap-
peal to the jury on Thursday morning
in behalf of his client. The State was
represented by Thomas Spight and
Phi A. Rush.
The accused will be taken from here
to Calhoun county, to bs tried for kill
ing Detective Wise, FIR which his
brother.in-law, Doc Bishop, was
hanged ct Pt,storo on the A Ii OF July
last.
The theory of the Stats is that Mr.
Wise, while looking for a criminal
wanted in Texas, in the woods OF Gal
houn county, was induced by prom.
Use of reward to attempt the capture
Of Doc Bishop and Bob Lamar, aud
while endesvoring TO make the cap.
ture WAS led into an ambush and killed
by Doc Bishop and Bob Lamar.
The Hon. W. A, Rosne will defend
Lamar in his next trial, and if clio.
qu4nce and untiring energy can feet
il Bob Lamar will again be free man.